The world of business is becoming more competitive as each day passes. With emerging start-ups and business giants monopolizing the market, it is getting harder to make your business stand out from the crowd. It means that even if you have a great service or product to sell, people may not catch word of it and you can’t sustain your business. However, with so many businesses facing the same problem, many solutions have been offered to help those struggling. Though there are countless methods to choose from, there are some which will guarantee your business a place on the map.
Network
Networking has always been an essential part of running any business, as it allows you to find new investors and clients. It can also put you in touch with some of the leading industry specialists, who may be able to offer you tips or publicity. This can be done through one-off partnerships or incubator schemes, and are ideal for any small business or newly formed start-up. Networking can be tricky if you don’t have the confidence to promote yourself and your brand, so it’s wise to build your confidence before attending any professional events and make use of online spheres to connect with international businesses.
Start blog writing
Today, it seems as though everybody has a blog, but there is a big difference between having a blog and having a well-written one. When blogs combine SEO practices and emotional rhetoric, they have a better chance of reaching a wider audience and connecting with them. They are also a great way of letting your consumers know what your business is all about. Whether it’s showing your expertise to appear trustworthy or talking of the ethical ethos you are following, there are many ways you can use your blog to reach out to people.
Use social media
Traditionally, social media was never a big part of the business world. In recent years, there has been a notable shift, where many businesses struggle to maintain their place in the industry if they don’t uphold social media practices. It’s wise to start by having an active online account on all major social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. On these sites, you can attract followers by running targeted advertising campaigns and engaging with viral trends. To keep these followers and convert them into consumers, you should promote regular blog content on your accounts, and ensure you boast a high engagement rate.
Have great customer service
Aside from advertising, social media is also perfect for helping you provide the best customer service to your target market. Being friendly, helpful and engaging to potential and current customers is one of the best ways to build a name for yourself. If friends and family members of your customers hear about how quickly you’ve resolved a problem, it can truly boost sales and help with building a revered reputation. Ultimately, it can give your business a very human face, which customers will be more likely to trust and return to in the future. Ideally, you should have at least one person dedicated to managing customer service with clear rules and tone of voice in place on all platforms to ensure you have it all covered.
Give out promotional products
One of the oldest but golden tricks in the book is giving out promotional products for your business. It is a great way to stir up excitement at the start of your business venture, or when you are releasing a new product. It also allows consumers to feel as though you are generous, and it lets them think they are making the decision to buy themselves after trying it. Promotional products work in two ways: the first is giving consumers a trial run of a service, or a free sample of a physical product. The next is by promoting your brand on memorabilia, like with t-shirts or canvas bags. To make sure you are following the right path for your business, you can learn more here.
Treat your employees well
A lot of the time, a business’ marketing attempts are preceded by their reputation. Customer service and flawless products are a big part of this, but treating your employees well is also vital. This dictates whether you can attract more employees to sustain expansion; if you treat your workforce badly, it will be less likely that people come to you for a job, and this can be detrimental for a business. You can start by following legal requirements on what to give an employee, but it’s also good to give them benefits and treat each employee with the utmost respect. A popular option is including a gym membership and regular work outings with the job, but some companies have started giving extra days off for wellness to promote hard working in the office and ensure their workers are their best selves.
Follow a strong ethical message
It is true that if your business follows unethical practices and people catch word of it, it can ruin your reputation. In a world where people are increasingly concerned about animal and human welfare and climate change, it seems that you can benefit the planet and your business more by promoting a strong ethical message. Currently, many businesses are cutting out the use of plastic to save the world’s oceans, but there are also more companies switching to Fairtrade. Publicising your efforts on your website, blog and social media is a sure-fire way of attracting more consumers, but you should also always remain transparent and honest with them.
Capitalize on trends
Being an ethical business is a huge trend in the industry right now, but there are some more that are also dominating the market. For example, the wellness industry has soared in the last few years as increasing awareness of mental health comes to the forefront of everyone’s minds. Not only this, but keeping on top of emerging technologies ensures your business is ahead of the game, and that you are also piquing the curiosity of your target market more by the day.